Image forming apparatus including a cleaning mechanism capable of efficiently removing residual toner

Abstract

An image forming apparatus which includes an image carrier configured to form a latent image and a cleaning mechanism configured to clean the image carrier and including a fur brush having a brush bunch with a radially-spreading top end portion. And the cleaning mechanism further includes a solid lubricant configured to provide lubricant to the image carrier and a spring configured to give pressure to the solid lubricant towards the fur brush with a predetermined pressure.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 an image carrier configured to form a latent image; and    a cleaning mechanism configured to clean the image carrier and including a fur brush having a brush bunch with a radially-spreading top end portion.    
   
   
       2 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radially-spreading top end portion of the brush bunch has a cross-section area at least half time greater than a root portion of the brush bunch.  
   
   
       3 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brush bunch is bent in a rotational direction of the fur brush.  
   
   
       4 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brush bunch is sewed on a ground fabric.  
   
   
       5 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ground fabric is wrapped around a shaft of the fur brush.  
   
   
       6 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brush bunch of the fur brush includes polyester fibers.  
   
   
       7 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the ground fabric includes an insulating material.  
   
   
       8 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a sewing point of the brush bunch is coated with an adhesive.  
   
   
       9 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a flicker member configured to contact the fur brush with a predetermined pressure.    
   
   
       10 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a cleaning blade arranged at a position downstream from a contact point of the fur brush and the image carrier in a rotational direction of the image carrier.    
   
   
       11 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a solid lubricant configured to provide lubricant to the image carrier; and    a spring configured to give pressure to the solid lubricant towards the fur brush with a predetermined pressure.    
   
   
       12 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a supply amount of lubricant is controlled by the pressure of the spring or weight of the solid lubricant itself.  
   
   
       13 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the flicker member is arranged at a position downstream from the solid lubricant in a rotational direction of the fur brush.  
   
   
       14 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 an image carrier means for forming a latent image; and    a cleaning means for cleaning the image carrier means and including a fur brush having a brush bunch with a radially-spreading top end portion.